[304] 7th, 10th, 15th Hussars. The 18th were still called Light Dragoons in 1808.
[305] In April, 1813, 10th, 15th, 18th Hussars, the 7th Hussars followed in September of the same year.
[306] Ker-Porter’s Letters from Portugal and Spain, 1808–9, p. 219.
[307] The Royal Military Artificers were wearing in the early years of the century a most extraordinary and ugly head-dress, a tall top-hat with brim, looking more fit for civilian’s wear, and having nothing military about it except the “shaving-brush” stuck at one side. It was not unlike, however, the hat of the Marines. For illustration of it see the plates in Connolly’s History of the Royal Sappers and Miners, vol. i.
[308] There are plenty of stories about him in Grattan’s With the Connaught Rangers. This one, however, is from Bell’s Rough Notes, i. 95.
[309] See the letter in General Rigaud’s History of the 5/60th.
[310] See illustration in [Plate 8] of a sergeant and private in winter marching order.
[311] There is a curious anecdote in the diary (p. 28) of Cooper of the 1/7th, of a sergeant, who, running with the point of his pike low, caught it in the ground, and fell forward on its butt-end, which went right through his body.
[312] E.g. there is a Waterloo story of a sergeant of the 18th Hussars, who long engaged with a cuirassier, and unable to get at him because of his armour and helm, ultimately killed him with a thrust in the mouth. I should not like to take it as certain.
[313] For ample details about them see Mr. Milne’s Standards and Colours of the Army, Leeds, 1893.